Climate Poll: 62% Of Canadians Say Climate More Important Than Energy Prices

A slim majority of Canadians are in favour of a carbon tax that would be charged on businesses, according to a new poll that suggests the Harper government is offside with most Canadians on climate policy.

Fifty-three per cent of respondents in the Nanos Research poll said the government should impose a tax on businesses based on carbon consumption, while only 11 per cent chose instead a carbon tax aimed at consumer goods such as gasoline and heating oil.

Twenty-nine per cent backed the Harper government’s position and said there should be no carbon tax of any kind.

On attitudes towards the environment, nearly two-thirds — 62 per cent — said the environment was more important than energy prices. Twenty-eight per cent said energy prices were more important.

Regionally, Quebecers were most likely to say the environment trumps energy prices (69.4 per cent), while Atlantic Canadians were the least likely to say so (56.1 per cent).

Nanos Research carried out the poll for the Thousand Islands Energy Research Forum, a joint partnership of Queen's University, The Royal Military College, the University of Ottawa and a number of U.S. institutions.

The poll surveyed 1,000 Canadians between Oct. 18 and Oct. 21, and has a margin of error of +/- 3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

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Climate Poll: 62% Of Canadians Say Climate More Important Than Energy Prices